“Disturbed’ Va. gunman angered by Charleston shootings

Law enforcement officials in Franklin County, Va., said Wednesday that the suspect in the live TV killings of a reporter and photographer appeared to be “spiraling out of control” before opening fire in an incident of violence that has rattled the nation. The 41-year-old suspected shooter, identified as Vester Lee Flanagan II, was believed to be a disgruntled former employee of the TV station, say police. After the shooting Flanagan sent out a series of tweets alleging that Alison had been racist towards him in the past and that Adam had previously complained about him to HR. ET from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was clearly “disturbed” about situations in his life, Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Mr Marks described him as ‘an unhappy man’ and ‘difficult to work with’, always ‘looking out for people to say things he could take offence to’.

Overton would not speculate about the specifics of his motive for killing WDBJ-TV reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, during a live broadcast Wednesday morning. They say Williams filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EOCC) against Ms Parker, and that Mr Ward had reported Williams to human resources. Mr Marks said Williams alleged that other employees made racially tinged comments to him, but said his EEOC claim was dismissed and none of his allegations could be corroborated.

Flanagan, who used the name Bryce Williams while working for WDBJ, posted video on his Facebook page showing the shooting from the perspective of the shooter. Vicki Gardner, the head of the local chamber of commerce who was being interviewed by Parker during the live shot, was described as in stable condition, said a spokesman for a local Roanoke hospital. ABC News said that a man claiming to be Bryce Williams, the name Flanagan used when he was employed by WDBJ, called the network over the past few weeks to pitch a story, but never said what it was.

The station’s live broadcast showed Parker interviewing Gardner at the Bridgewater Plaza shopping center when, just off camera, shots rang out and Parker was heard screaming. In the letter to authorities, which he called a “Suicide Note for Friends and Family,” Flanagan claimed he suffered racial discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying at work, and said he was attacked for being a gay, black man. “Yes, it will sound like I am angry…I am. But when I leave this Earth, the only emotion I want to feel is peace….” he went on in the letter.” “Also, I was influenced by Seung–Hui Cho,” he wrote, referring to the Virgina Tech mass killer, before referencing the Columbine High School killers. “That’s my boy right there.

ABC said the document claimed the shooting was prompted by the June shooting rampage by a white supremacist at a South Carolina church that left nine people dead. I am heartbroken for his fiancee.” “At the time of their murders, they were involved in the most important aspect of journalism — telling the stories important to their local communities, Schurz said. “Our focus now is to comfort their families and loved ones and to assist law enforcement in their investigation.”